Bi-amping Pass X.5 matches X.8 / XA.8 / X.5 / XA.5

hi onhwy61,

speaker: B&W 801
preamp: Pass XP-30 (it provides TWO sets of main output.)

(no active crossover is needed.)

Thanks!

Bad idea. You'll never get it to sound right. The only way I would consider biamping is vertical, and you need 2 stereo amps. New speakers would be a much better upgrade.

hi Zd542,

would you please teach me what the major differences (in terms of sounding) between vertical biamping and horizontal biamping?

Thank you!

Regarding vertical vs. horizontal biamping, see this post, which is written by a noted amplifier designer.

Also, while it might be possible to obtain reasonable results using four identical monoblocks, I agree with ZD that it would most likely make more sense to upgrade your speakers instead.

Finally, while I suspect that your 801 speakers have completely separate crossover circuits for their high and low frequency sections, before even considering biamping them you should confirm that with the manufacturer or a knowledgeable dealer. I believe that some speakers which provide separate input terminals for the highs and the lows do not keep the two sections completely separate electrically. Biamping such a speaker, especially with amps having balanced outputs such as these Pass models, could cause problems including even the possibility of damage.

Regards,
-- Al

upgrade to more powerful amp instead.